Government watchdog group Judicial Watch reported today that their public records lawsuit against the City of Phoenix revealed that an Operation Fast and Furious-linked AK-47 rifle was used in a July 29, 2013 gang assault on an apartment building which left two people wounded.
The revelation is the latest in a slew of murders tied to the Fast and Furious gun-running operation in which the Obama administration allowed guns to enter into the hands of the Mexican cartels with hopes that, as the theory goes, advance gun-control measures by tracking and identifying sellers and purchasers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost 1,400 of those Fast and Furious weapons in Mexico, reported CNN, and two weapons were found at the murder scene of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Sixteen people, including 14 teenagers, were killed with linked guns at a Villas de Salvarcar, Mexico birthday party, reported the Daily Mail.
"Thanks to our lawsuit, Congress has been able to confirm what Judicial Watch already reported - that a Fast and Furious weapon was used in yet another violent crime that terrorized and injured residents of Phoenix," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton in a press release. "Our lawsuit against Phoenix exposed how the Obama cover-up of Fast and Furious is ongoing. Eric Holder's Department of Justice is a mess. It has endangered the public and is engaged in an ongoing cover-up of its insanely reckless Fast and Furious gun-running operation. Judicial Watch appreciates the refreshing diligence of Senator Grassley and Congressman Issa in pursuing the truth about Fast and Furious."
The Department of Justice failed to notify Congress or the public about this particular gun crime, wrote Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Darryl Issa, R-Calif., in their Oct. 16 letter of inquiry to Deputy Attorney General James Cole.
"Based on the serial number [1977DX1654] from the police report obtained by Judicial Watch and documents obtained during our Fast and Furious investigation, we can confirm that the assault rifle recovered in the vehicle on July 30, 2013, was purchased by Sean Christopher Stewart," the letter says. "Stewart pled guilty to firearms trafficking charges resulting from his involvement with Operation Fast and Furious ... Stewart purchased this particular firearm on December 8, 2009, one of 40 that he purchased that day while under ATF surveillance.
"According to the Phoenix Police Department report, ATF traced the firearm on July 31, 2013, the day after Phoenix police officers recovered it," wrote Grassley. "Yet, over a full year has passed, and the Department has failed to notify the Committees."
Grassley and Issa also asked in their letter that the DOJ respond with the total number of weapons associated with Fast and Furious that have been recovered and successfully traced in both Mexico and the U.S.
As Judicial Watch notes, this isn't the first time the Obama administration has failed to provide Congress with information regarding Fast and Furious operations. Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt by the House of Representatives back in 2012 because he refused to turn over Fast and Furious documents.
Judicial Watch also said they expecting to receive information by Oct. 22 that has been kept secret by President Obama from both Congress and the public for three years.
